Frequently asked questions
Why should we host a traveling exhibition?
Traveling exhibitions offer a cost-effective way to expand your programming and ensure that your institution remains a vital public resource for educational and leisure activities. Our exhibitions are fully prepared and ready to install in your galleries at a fraction of what it would take to originate a similar exhibition independently.
How do traveling exhibitions increase audience outreach?
A dynamic program of changing exhibitions not only attracts new audiences, but also draws occasional visitors and members back to your museum. Diverse exhibitions exploring unique themes can appeal to new sections of the population, broadening awareness of your institution and appreciation for its impact in the community.
What are the benefits of traveling an exhibition we are planning?
There are many outstanding exhibitions with national and international appeal that, due to staff and budget priorities, do not travel beyond their originating museum. Working with CATE, institutions are able to extend the reach of their investment in a project while obtaining an increased national profile, which often aids in qualifying for grants and satisfying program outreach requirements.
How do you choose exhibitions to tour?
We seek exhibitions with a strong art component and curatorial thesis that have a national and/or international appeal. If you have a project that you would like to propose, please review further guidelines on submitting a proposal.
Why should we work with CATE to travel our exhibition?
Since 2000 CATE has placed over 200 exhibitions with more than 500 museums. Our focus on exhibition touring allows us to perform in a highly cost-effective fashion that most museums cannot match when touring their own projects. Our staff becomes an extension of your administration by taking over marketing, scheduling, registration and logistics management, enabling your exhibition to tour without burdening your staff. In fact, it has been the consensus of the museums with which we have worked that it makes little sense for them to expend their resources managing tours when they could otherwise be doing what they do best—creating exhibitions.
How is CATE different than other touring exhibition services?
In addition to our expertise in marketing and managing exhibition tours, CATE's sister company, Curatorial Assistance, Inc., offers in-house framing, crating, and storage facilities. Our integrated capabilities translate into greater oversight and control of your project and improved economy of scale. The prudence of a single source of support and service is increasingly important in today's world of reduced staff and shrinking budgets. Art and museum services include framing, packing and crating, art shipping worldwide, exhibition design and fabrication, art installation, multimedia solutions for exhibitions, project management, digitizing of pictorial collections, photography and digital reproduction, and design for print and electronic publications.
How do you determine participation fees?
Participation fees generally cover a six or eight week exhibition period, including adequate additional time for installation and dismantling. Fees are prorated for longer booking periods. A deposit is due upon signing the contract, a second payment is due 90 days prior to the booking period, and the balance is due on the first day of the booking period. Because projects are planned years in advance, the final participation fee may not be published. Fees fall within the following ranges: "Low" under $10,000, " Medium" $10,000–$20,000, and "High" over $20,000.
How do you handle insurance of works?
Exhibitions are insured during transit to and from each venue under our fine arts policy. In most cases, exhibitors are required to insure the exhibition while it is in their possession. Some exhibitions are covered at the venue by CATE under a "wall to wall" fine arts policy and may have an insurance fee.
How do you handle transportation of works?
CATE makes all shipping arrangements for its traveling exhibitions. These arrangements are made one to two months prior to the opening of the exhibition. The majority of exhibitions require that the exhibitor pay a prorated transportation fee, which allows each exhibitor to pay an equal amount of the domestic transportation costs for the entire tour. Exhibitors in Alaska, Hawaii, and foreign countries are responsible for incoming shipping costs plus outgoing costs to a mutually agreed-upon point in the continental United States.
Do you provide educational materials?
CATE will provide exhibitors a copy and/or ordering instructions for accompanying publications. Educational packets are provided when available, and may include images, bibliography, filmography, and programming suggestions for the exhibition. We will also serve as a point of contact between exhibitors and artists or curators who may be available for lectures.